** Gaurav Gupta, the Indian designer of choice for American rappers?

With a fabulous Oscar debut, and Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B as clients, the Indian designer is making his way onto Hollywood stylists’ checklists

There’s a certain rhythmic pattern that defines the design vocabulary of Indian couturier Gaurav Gupta, whose creations have recently been spotted on American rappers Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B. On Monday morning in India, Gupta’s blue-and-silver ruffled gown made a shared debut with Megan on the red carpet of the 94th Academy Awards.

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** Anita Lal is India’s first tastemaker for Christie’s

Good Earth’s creative director collaborates with the London auction house to present art from both ‘Islamic and Indian worlds’

It comes as no surprise that Anita Lal, 73, fondly known by her initials, AL, is Christie’s tastemaker for a Spring sale this week. After all, the founder of Good Earth, the home goods and apparel company that celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, has led many craft interventions. The brand was behind interior restorations like the Rajmahal Palace in Jaipur, a partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum (Fabric of India exhibition) and, more recently, the Heirloom Project, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It marked a decade of the museum’s Islamic wing. This month, as tastemaker for Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs and Carpets, Lal created an edit of personal favourites from the sale and has curated digital vignettes with Good Earth products, objects she has “cherished over the years”.

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** Destiny-maker of the deprived

Reeta Kaushik of Kushinagar symbolises a revolution in learning.

Born in the Musahar community — the most marginalised and deprived section, Reeta stands out as an educator across many villages of Kushinagar and Gorakhpur. She is credited with educating over 25,000 girls and youths through her organisation.

“I am my own inspiration,” she says, recalling how she fought social norms to bring about a change in not just her own life but also that of many others in her community and outside it. A rickshaw puller’s daughter, Reeta battled casteism, child marriage and illiteracy at each step. “In my family, education was never a priority, least so for girls.”

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** India successfully test-fires army version of MRSAM missile system

India successfully test-fired the Army version of Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) from a defence facility off the Odisha coast on Sunday demonstrating the system’s high killing efficiency.

The state-of-the-art missile was flight tested in full operational configuration from the launching complex – III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur at about 10.30 am. The missile intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle achieving a ‘direct hit’.

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** MP to be first to offer MBBS course in Hindi

BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh is set to become the first state in India to impart medical education in Hindi medium.Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Sunday, “This year, MP will become the first state to start the MBBS course in Hindi.

The books for the MBBS education in Hindi are being readied and the new Hindi based system will commence. It will soon be followed in engineering education and other professional courses. This new system will help remove inferiority complex among our students from middle class and lower economic class who come from Hindi speaking backgrounds.”

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** Defence Ministry, Goa Shipyard Limited sign contract for construction of eight Fast Patrol Vessels

 Adding to the steps involving indigenous manufacturing in construction of the defence equipment the Ministry of Defence on Monday signed a contract with Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for construction of eight Fast Patrol Vessels for Indian Coast Guard at a total project cost of Rs 473 crore.

These surface platforms will be indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by GSL under Buy (Indian-IDDM) Category.

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** Navy gets more reconnaissance power over Arabian Sea with new squadron

 In a significant move to strengthen the reconnaissance capability of Indian Navy towards the western seaboard, a new Naval Reconnaissance Air Squadron has been raised under the Western Naval Command (WNC) headquartered in Mumbai. 

The Navy on Monday said, “Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 316, Indian Navy’s second P-8I aircraft squadron, will be commissioned on March 29 at INS Hansa, Goa, in the presence of Naval chief Admiral R Hari Kumar.”

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** Bharat Bhagya Vidhata Red Fort Festival: A colourful, cultural extravaganza

This 10-day celebration at the Red Fort focuses on India’s rich history and multiculturalism.

August 15 Park (Lahori Gate) is the venue for this event and hosts makeshift stalls and a giant Ferris wheel.

This 10-day extravaganza, which was unveiled on March 25, is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of India. Part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav—an initiative by the government of India to commemorate 75 years of Indian Independence—highlights the country’s diverse crafts, cuisines, and more.

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** Irish Sanskrit scholar awarded Padma Shri

 President Ramnath Kovind on Monday presented Rutger Kortenhorst, a Sanskrit teacher at John Scottus Senior School in Dublin, Ireland, with the Padma Shri Award for Literature and Education.

Kortenhorst, a Sanskrit enthusiast and researcher, has been a pioneer in propagating Sanskrit in Ireland.

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